Wednesday, March 2, 2005
BIRTHS
Justin and Christina (Brose) Wilson, Brainerd, a girl, Kylee Abigail, 6 pounds, 5 ounces, Feb. 13, 2005. Grandparents are Dean and Katherine Brose, Park Rapids, and Roger and Barbara Wilson, Ponsford.
MEETINGS
LITTLE FALLS -- The Little Falls School Board will meet 8:30 a.m. Friday in the media center at the Little Falls Community High School. The board will discuss the 2005-06 budget.
BIRTH
Glenn and Shae (Getty) Pifer, Chandler, Ariz., a girl, Aspen Carolyn, 7 pounds, 6 ounces, Jan. 30, 2005. Grandparents are Gary and Lynn Getty, Baxter; George and Kathy Pifer, Texas; and Gene and Marilyn Kellough, Texas.
CRIME
BURGLARIES -- Randy Vandermay, 900 block of Broadway Street, Friday reported his residence broken into.
Call of the wild
CUSHING -- A lot has changed at the central Minnesota office of The Nature Conservancy since a spring day in 2002, when Garth Fuller rolled up here from Cannon Falls to establish a local office of an international conservation organization that's been around since 1954.
Ebnet re-elected to head Minnesota Watershed District Board
NISSWA -- Tom Ebnet, Lake Edward Township, was re-elected chairman of the Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts in December.
Contest winners predict future of health, strength, unity in Mille Lacs
ONAMIA -- Winners of the See Mille Lacs in 2020 contest voiced a strong sense of optimism and ambitious visions for the region in 15 years, including an appreciation for diversity, enlightened environmental efforts and an expanded economy.
Safe food handling workshops set in Wadena, Long Prairie
Workshops offering practical suggestions on handling, preparing, storing and serving food safely will be offered in Wadena and Long Prairie.
Open lot agreement can help smaller feedlot operations
ST. PAUL -- Less than a year remains for smaller livestock operations to take advantage of a provision in the state feedlot rule that can make it easier to comply with requirements to prevent water pollution from manure-contaminated runoff.
Norwegian Exchange is a Minnesota tradition
CAMP RIPLEY -- Conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are foremost on people's minds when it comes to military news.
Two area 4-Hers to travel to nation's capital
Tyler Young of the Black Bear 4-H Club and Laura Hamm of the Deerwood Whitetails 4-H Club will be among 100 4-H youths who will travel to Washington, D.C., in July to participate in Citizenship Washington Focus, a leadership program for high school youths conducted by the National 4-H Council.
Camp Ripley Commander promoted
Josh and Justin Weaver pinned new eagles on their father's uniform at his promotion ceremony Feb. 19 during the 32nd U.S.-Norway Troop Reciprocal Exchange at Camp Ripley. Col. Richard Weaver assumed command of Camp Ripley in 2003. Looking on are his wife, Jodi, Brig. Gen. Dean Johnson and Maj. Gen. Larry Shellito, the adjutant general of the Minnesota National Guard. Photo/Master Sgt. Charles Farrow
Pequot family donates money from auctioned calf to help cattle industry
A rural Pequot Lakes cattle rancher and his family donated one of their purebred Angus heifer calves and put it up for auction, netting nearly $12,000 in local donations for R-CALF USA, which represents the U.S. cattle industry in trade and marketing issues.
Fairbanks named county planner
WALKER -- The Cass County Board decided Tuesday to recognize longtime experience and talent within the county's environmental services department in reshaping the department with a focus on planning for the future.
Hutchison named 2005 Pillager Teacher of the Year
PILLAGER -- For 17 years, Ann Hutchison has worked hard to make sure all students achieve their greatest potential to become successful in Pillager.
This was Brainerd
80 years ago (1925) - The matter of paving Fourth Street from Laurel to Kingwood was taken up at the regular meeting of the city council.
Area briefs
CROSSLAKE -- St. Patrick's Day activities in Crosslake will include the annual parade and Pot O' Gold treasure hunt.
CORRECTION
Because of incorrect information provided the Dispatch, a senior dance was listed incorrectly on Page 6C Sunday. There will be a senior dance at 1 p.m. Friday in Deerwood.
Proposal for Baxter post office hits ordinance snag
BAXTER -- A proposal from the Brainerd Post Office to build a full-service post office in Baxter hit a snag Tuesday.
Little Falls TIF district motion fails
LITTLE FALLS -- A motion to create a tax-increment financing district at the former Larson Motor Service site failed Monday when the Little Falls City Council vote ended in a tie.
Little Falls golf course eyes lease agreement
LITTLE FALLS -- A potential lease agreement may be teed up for the Little Falls municipal golf course.
Mansions stay open this year
LITTLE FALLS -- Linden Hill, the Musser and Weyerhaeuser mansions in Little Falls, will remain open through the end of the year.
Overheard
"Unfortunately, the restaurant industry has almost become addicted to them because it's sort of the cheap and easy thing to do. There now are alternatives that are available, and restaurants just need to take their customers' health to heart."
LOCAL BRIEFS
ST. PAUL -- Sen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley, was appointed to the Legislative Commission on Health Care Access and the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area Advisory Committee.
Second-graders back in school; fed-up parents schedule meeting
Cuyuna Range Elementary School second-graders returned to school Monday, joining the first-grade students who returned to classes last week, said Scott Kile, chair of the Crosby-Ironton School Board.
This was Brainerd
100 years ago (1905) - Attorney E. H. Krelwitz, of Aitkin, came over today to meet his wife who has been visiting in the Twin Cities, but she did not come.
Kid rock
Payton Edevold (right), raised her hand to offer a lyric to Greg Hind, a guitar player and singer in the Little River Band. Hind helped Sharon Rasmussen's first-graders compose a song about friendship Monday at Nisswa Elementary School. The singer, a native of Australia, now resides in Lake Shore and frequently volunteers at the school. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
Veteran donor
Rick Janssen donated blood Tuesday at the Brainerd National Guard Armory. Janssen has been donating blood since 1973. The pint he donated Tuesday brings his total donation up to nine gallons or 72 pints in his life. The American Red Cross is hosting the blood drive 1-7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday. Brainerd Dispatch/Nels Norquist
Not your average snow fort
It may be the best snow fort in Cass County, but this massive snow structure's design has a purpose too. The nearly 24-foot-long by 8-foot-tall snow structure was built by Hunt Utilities Group employees at the company's Pine River research campus and is being tested to develop building techniques to construct eco-minded homes using natural materials, like straw, cob and clay. Brainerd Dispatch/Nels Norquist
Overheard
"I'm sick to death of it, I can't deal with it, it's too much."
Campers still allowed at Wal-Mart
Baxter has scrapped a proposed ordinance that would have prohibited camping within parking areas of city businesses.
Host families sought for exchange students
Youth For Understanding USA is seeking families to host foreign exchange high school students for the 2005-2006 academic year.
Minnesotans may order free credit reports
Beginning this month, Minnesotans may order a free credit report about themselves and find out what has probably been interesting reading for others.
Boys' basketball team will return to action without its coach
The Crosby-Ironton Rangers boys' basketball team decided for itself what it will do for this week's West Subsection 7, Class 2A tournament.
Deficit less than expected
News that higher-than-expected tax collections will slash Minnesota's projected budget deficit by close to a third cheered area lawmakers in St. Paul Monday.
Frustration and anger
DEERWOOD -- About 400 Crosby-Ironton residents who packed the historic Deerwood Auditorium Tuesday night were met with widespread applause as they vented their frustration and anger about the three-week-old teachers' strike.
Obituary policy
Obituary notices are charged at 34 cents a word, exclusive of the first 125 words, which are free. A $10 fee is charged for a half-column photograph. To place an obituary in the Dispatch, consult the funeral home handling arrangements.
Louise Anderson Wilson
STAPLES -- Louise Anderson Wilson, 69, of Staples, died Monday, Feb. 28, 2005, at Lakewood Health System Hospital. Memorial services will be held Tuesday, March 8, at 11 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church of Staples with the Rev. Stephen Sveom and Pastor A.J. Kluver officiating.
Donald Kelcher
PILLAGER -- Donald Kelcher, age 67, of Pillager, died Tuesday, March 1, 2005, in Brainerd.
Obituary policy
Obituary notices are charged at 34 cents a word, exclusive of the first 125 words, which are free. A $10 fee is charged for a half-column photograph. To place an obituary in the Dispatch, consult the funeral home handling arrangements.
Roena M. Frasl
Roena M. Frasl, 69, of Brainerd, died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2005, at her home. She was born Aug. 1, 1935, in Owatonna, Minn., to John and Emma (Ribbe) Betts. She worked for many years at the Ransford Hotel and later worked at Opal Anne's Closet. She was a member of the Park United Methodist Church, American Legion Post No. 255 Auxiliary, VFW Post No. 1647 Auxiliary, Women of the Moose and the Eagles Club.
GUEST COLUMN: Doctor disappointed with Durenberger
As a former supporter of Sen. Durenberger and member of his executive finance committee in the 1980s and 90s, I am shocked and deeply hurt at Sen. Durenberger's inaccurate and distorted position on what is wrong with health care today.
Open Forum
All reasons for invasion of Iraq have been found to be utterly in error. Over 1,400 American soldiers are dead and by some estimates over 100,000 Iraqis have been killed and maimed, yet we continue to send our youth into a war that nobody can justify. We got there by mistake, and we're staying there by mistake and we're running out of soldiers.
Open Forum
It's like the old Aaron Tippin song says, "You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything." This is where my husband and I stand.
Vox Pop
The Vox Pop writer who accused Sen. Paul Koering of making a racist allegation is stretching it. True, Brainerd has always had crime, but as a city grows so does crime. It's just a fact of life. The meth problem in the area has caused even more growth in crime. Koering was just stating the facts; the robbers' race had nothing to do with what he said. The writer tried to link Koering's statement with the fact that the robbers were black and make it sound racist. He failed. This unwarranted attack exemplifies the desperation of out-of-power liberals.
Upcoming sporting events
WEDNESDAY
Scoreboard
Baseball
Warriors eliminated at sections by taller team
MAPLE GROVE -- After the first half of Tuesday's Section 8, Class 4A opening round contest between the top-seeded Maple Grove Crimson and eighth-seeded Brainerd Warriors, it was anyone's game.
Scoreboard
Baseball
Sports shorts
MONTEZUMA, IOWA -- Jordan Sherwood of Pine River raced his Ski Doo to a victory in Semi-Pro 900 and second place in Semi-Pro 700 and Semi-Pro 800 and the X Games Qualifier last weekend at the second round of the WSA Hillcross here.
Upcoming sporting events
TUESDAY
Cards eliminate Flyers from playoffs
WILLMAR -- Travis Fedor led the third-seeded Little Falls Flyers with 10 points and teammate Ben Plante added eight in a 55-35 Section 8, Class 3A opening-round loss to the second-seeded Willmar Cardinals Tuesday.
Errant shooting eliminates Cards
COLLEGEVILLE -- The second-seeded Staples-Motley Cardinals shot 24 percent from the field, 21 percent from three-point range, and lost 48-41 to third-seeded Holdingford in the District 19, Section 6, Class 2A girls' basketball semifinals Saturday at St. John's University.
Patriots back in the section final
DULUTH -- With a 70-32 thrashing of the Two Harbors Agates Tuesday, the Pequot Lakes Patriots girls' basketball team is back in the Section 7, Class 2A playoffs.
S-M activities director receives state award
Glen Hasselberg of Staples-Motley High School has been selected by the Minnesota State High School Athletic Administrators Association as the 2005 recipient of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association State Award of Merit.
Sports shorts
Nathan Moritz of Emily raced an Arctic Cat to victories in Junior 14-17 and Sport 500 divisions Feb. 19-20 at the WSA Hillcross season opener at Park X on Quadna Mountain at Hill City.
Brainerd boxers win at Fergus Falls
Three members of the Golden Lakes Boxing Club scored victories Saturday on a card at Fergus Falls.
Platisha commits to U of N-Omaha
J.P. Platisha, the leading scorer in Brainerd Warrior boys' hockey history, has made a verbal commitment to attend the Division I University of Nebraska-Omaha of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.
Playoff time
The Crosby-Ironton Rangers are a boys' basketball team without a coach, but that isn't stopping them from competing in the West Subsection 7, Class 2A playoffs.
Flyers soar to St. Paul
Lights. Camera. Action.
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly to mostly sunny. Scattered lake effect flurries or snow showers near lake superior. Highs in the 20s.
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Partly cloudy west. Mostly sunny east. Highs from near 30 northeast to the mid 50s southwest.
State forecast for Iowa
Today...Partly cloudy in the morning then becoming mostly sunny.
Wisconsin state forecast
Lake effect snow warning bayfield...Ashland and iron counties until 5 pm cst today...
State forecast for Iowa
Today...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 20s north to near 40 far
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Partly to mostly sunny. Highs from the 20s northeast...To the mid 50s far west.
Watch the bump
Weather drawing by Matthew Munns of Mrs. Czeck's first grade class at Lowell school.
State forecast for N.D.
Today...Mostly sunny. Highs 15 above northeast to around 50
State forecast for N.D.
Today...Mostly sunny. Highs 20 northeast to lower 50s far southwest.
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Mostly sunny in the morning...Then becoming partly
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Mostly sunny. Highs mainly in the 20s.
Frosty the snowman
Weather drawing by Kirstie Torvinen of Mrs. Smith's first grade class at St. Francis school.